Roof beam end caps

ABSTRACT

An end cap ( 20 ) for a roof beam for a conservatory roof is in the form of a cover for the roof beam end and has one or more internal projections ( 30 ) for locating in corresponding apertures in a roof beam.

This invention concerns end caps for roof beams of conservatory roofs.

Conservatory roofs are generally constructed by mounting glazing panelsbetween roof beams supported at one end from a ridge beam and at theother end from an eaves beam. The roof beams are fixed at each end bymeans of screws or bolts through the roof beams into the ridge or eavesbeam. At the eaves beam end it is customary to fit an end cap to a roofbean to improve the aesthetic appearance of the roof beam end and forweather protection.

End caps have been simply fixed to roof beam ends by means of screwsthrough an end cap into a screw port of the roof beam. Another means ofsecuring end caps has been to fix a bracket to the end of the roof beamand to have an end cap slidable onto the bracket.

It is still desirable, however, to provide a simpler form of end capthat is simple to fit to a roof beam end.

According to the invention there is provided an end cap for a roof beamfor a conservatory roof in the form of a cover for the roof beam end andhaving one or more internal projections for locating in correspondingapertures in a roof beam.

Preferably two spaced projections, such as pins, are provided internallyof the end cap for locating in corresponding apertures of a roof beam.The end cap of the invention is preferably generally U-shaped to providesides that when fitted overlap top and bottom sides of a roof beam.

Preferably the end caps of the invention will have one or more drainageapertures therein. A preferred drainage aperture is a slit. Preferablythe drainage aperture or apertures are provided at a position that willbe generally in a lowermost region of the end cap when fitted to the endof a roof beam.

The end cap of the invention is particularly suitable for use with roofbeams of the type comprising a core profile of metal, a plastics memberfitted to the core profile and providing at least one ledge for carryingan edge of a sheet of glazing material and a cap mountable on theplastics member for retaining the glazing sheet thereon. However, itwill be appreciated that the end caps of the invention may be usablewith other forms of roof beam.

In a first preferred embodiment the core profile is a hollow extrusionand the plastics member is a sheath for the core profile. In anotherpreferred embodiment, the plastics member is mountable on top of thecore profile. For example, the plastics member may be a sliding fit or asnap fit on the top of the core profile. Reinforcement may be providedinternally of the core profile, such as in the form of steel profilesinserted into the core profile. Such reinforcement is mainly intendedfor use with core profile lengths over a predetermined threshold foradditional strength. The core profile and or the sheath are preferablyshaped to reduce direct contact between them. For example, the sheathmay have on its inner spaced surface ribs or the like to provide theonly lines of contact with the core profile in certain regions.Additionally or alternatively, the core profile bar can have spaced feetor flanges that make end contact with the sheath.

A preferred sectional profile for the core profiles used in theinvention is that of a trapezium having a narrow base and wider top. Thesheath preferably has a corresponding profile.

The plastics member, such as the sheath, preferably has a pair of ledgesone each side of a connection formation for attachment of the cap. Holesfor the internal projections of the end cap will usually be provided inthe ledges. The ledges preferably have gasket material, such as ofrubber or other suitable elastomeric material, thereon for sealingagainst the underside of glazing material. The gasket material may befitted in grooves or the like in the ledges or may be bonded to orco-extruded onto the ledges. Between the ledges and the connectionformation, the sheath preferably has longitudinal channels to providedrainage passages in case of water penetration through the roof beam.

The connection formation of the plastics member, such as the sheath, ispreferably in the form of a slot whose sides extend upwardly from thetop of the sheath. The sides end with internal lips, whose top surfacesare preferably chamfered for ease of entry of a connection formation ofthe cap. The cap preferably has an, in use, depending connectionformation having at least one pair and preferably two pairs of ribsthereon that can be pushed into the slot of the plastics member andretained there with glazing material sandwiched between the cap and theledges of the plastics member. Two pairs of ribs are preferably providedon the cap connection formation, so as to allow the cap to be fitted attwo different heights relative to the plastics member to accommodateglazing materials of different thickness. Alternatively, the cap mayhave a single pair of ribs and the slot of the plastics member may havetwo pairs of internal barbs or the like to allow the cap to be fittedover two different thicknesses of glazing material.

The cap is preferably generally of T-section, the stem of the Tproviding the connection formation. The cross bar of the T-sectionpreferably has gasket material at ends thereof, such as of rubber orother suitable elastomeric material, for sealing against the topside ofglazing material. The gasket material may be fitted in grooves or thelike in the ends of the cap crossbar or may be bonded to or co-extrudedonto the ends thereof. The cross bar of the cap is preferably arcuateand ends thereof preferably depend to meet the glazing material.

The preferred roof beams for use with end caps of the invention may bemounted between a ridge beam and eaves beam by any suitable means,although it is to be noted that the preferred hollow nature of the coreprofile allows for fitting of roof beam connectors that can cooperatewith formations of a ridge and/or eaves beam for ease of fitting.Preferably such connectors permit snap fitting with cooperatingformations of ridge and/or eaves beams.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example onlywith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows part of a conservatory roof;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a roof beam end cap;

FIG. 3 is rear view of the end cap of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the end cap of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the end cap of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view from the front and side of the end cap ofFIG. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a conservatory roof comprisesglazing panels 10 supported between roof beams 12. The roof beams arethemselves supported between a ridge beam (not shown) and an eaves beam14. The roof beams 12 comprise a core profile in a plastics sheath 16 towhich is fitted a cap 18 that holds down the glazing panels 10. Roofbeams of this type are described in more detail in our co-pendingapplication (P5139).

At the eaves end of the roof beams, the roof beams have end caps 20. Theend caps 20 are generally U-shaped having a closed end 22 and top andbottom sides 24 and 26 that in the fitted position overlie the top andbottom sides of the roof beams 12. The end and sides of the end caps areturned over to a small extent to form end walls 28.

Internally of the top side of an end cap is a pair of pins 30 that areprovided to locate in corresponding holes in the top of the roof beam,whereby the end cap can be pushed onto the end of a roof beam until thepins drop into the holes to locate the end cap in place.

Where the end cap closed end an its bottom side meet a slit 31 isprovided, so that any water collecting in the end cap, such as from rainwater running down its roof beam, can escape into guttering 32.

1. An end cap for a roof beam for a conservatory roof in the form of acover for the roof beam end and having one or more internal projectionsfor locating in corresponding apertures in a roof beam.
 2. An end cap asclaimed in claim 1, wherein two spaced projections are providedinternally of the end cap for locating in corresponding apertures of aroof beam.
 3. An end cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the projectionsare pins.
 4. An end cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end cap isgenerally U-shaped to provide sides that when fitted overlap top andbottom sides of a roof beam.
 5. An end cap as claimed in claim 1, havingone or more drainage apertures therein.
 6. An end cap as claimed inclaim 5, wherein the or each drainage aperture is a slit.
 7. An end capas claimed in claim 5, wherein the drainage aperture or apertures areprovided at a position that will be generally in a lowermost region ofthe end cap when fitted to the end of a roof beam.
 8. An end cap androof beam combination wherein the end cap is as claimed in claim 1 andthe roof beam comprises a core profile of metal, a plastics memberfitted to the core profile and providing at least one ledge for carryingan edge of a sheet of glazing material and a cap mountable on theplastics member for retaining the glazing sheet thereon.
 9. An end capand roof beam combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein the coreprofile is a hollow extrusion and the plastics member is a sheath forthe core profile.
 10. An end cap and roof beam combination as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the plastics member is mountable on top of the coreprofile.
 11. An end cap and roof beam combination as claimed in claim10, wherein the plastics member is a sliding fit or a snap fit on thetop of the core profile.
 12. An end cap and roof beam combination asclaimed in claim 8, wherein reinforcement is provided internally of thecore profile.
 13. An end cap and roof beam combination as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the reinforcement is in the form of steel profilesinserted into the core profile.
 14. An end cap and roof beam combinationas claimed in claim 1, wherein either or both of the core profile andthe sheath are shaped to reduce direct contact between them.
 15. An endcap and roof beam combination as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sheathhas on its inner spaced surface ribs or the like to provide the onlylines of contact with the core profile in certain regions.
 16. An endcap and roof beam combination as claimed in claim 14, wherein,additionally or alternatively, the core profile bar has spaced feet orflanges that make end contact with the sheet.
 17. An end cap and roofbeam combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein the core profile has asectional profile of a trapezium having a narrower base and a wider top.18. An end cap and roof beam combination as claimed in claim 17, whereinthe sheath has a corresponding profile to that of the core profile. 19.An end cap and roof beam combination as claimed in claim 8 any one ofclaims 8 to 18, wherein the plastics member has a pair of ledges, oneeach side of a connection formation for attachment of the cap.
 20. Anend cap as claimed in claim 19, wherein holes for the internalprojections of the end cap are provided in the ledges.
 21. An end capand roof beam combination as claimed in claim 19, wherein the ledgeshave gasket material thereon for sealing against the underside ofglazing material.
 22. An end cap and roof beam combination as claimed inclaim 21, wherein the gasket material is of rubber or other suitableelastomeric material.
 23. An end cap and roof beam combination asclaimed in claim 21, wherein the gasket material is fitted in grooves orthe like in the ledges or bonded to co-extruded onto the ledges.
 24. Anend cap and roof beam combination as claimed in claim 19, whereinbetween the ledges and the connection formation, the sheath haslongitudinal channels to provide drainage passages in case of waterpenetration through the roof beam.
 25. An end cap as claimed in claim19, wherein the connection formation of the plastics member is in theform of a slot whose sides extend upwardly from the top of the sheath.26. An end cap and roof beam combination as claimed in claim 25, whereinthe sides end with internal lips, whose top surfaces are chamfered forease of entry of a connection formation of the cap.
 27. An end cap androof beam combination as claimed in claim 26, wherein the cap has an, inuse, depending connection formation having at least one pair of ribsthereon that can be pushed into the slot of the plastics member andretained there with glazing material sandwiched between the cap and theledges of the plastics member.
 28. An end cap and roof beam combinationas claimed in claim 27, wherein two pairs of ribs are provided on thecap connection formation, so as to allow the cap to be fitted at twodifferent heights relative to the plastics member to accommodate glazingmaterials of different thickness.
 29. An end cap and roof beamcombination as claimed in claim 27, wherein the cap has a single pair ofribs and the slot of the plastics member has two pairs of internal barbsor the like to allow the cap to be fitted over two different thicknessesof glazing material.
 30. An end cap and roof beam combination as claimedin claim 8, wherein the cap is generally of T-section, the stem of the Tproviding the connection formation.
 31. An end cap and roof beamcombination as claimed in claim 30, wherein the cross bar of theT-section has gasket material at ends thereof for sealing against thetopside of glazing material.
 32. An end cap and roof beam combination asclaimed in claim 31, wherein the gasket material is of rubber or othersuitable elastomeric material.
 33. An end cap and roof beam combinationas claimed in claim 31, wherein the gasket material is fitted in groovesor the like in the ends of the cap crossbar or bonded to or co-extrudedonto the ends thereof.
 34. An end cap and roof beam combination asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the cross bar of the cap is arcuate and endsthereof depend to meet the glazing material.
 35. (canceled) 36.(canceled)